Article gripping and handling device



June 15, 1965 O. J. CALOGERO ARTICLE GRIPPING AND HANDLING DEVICE Filed April 16, 1962 J Li JIIIVE'NT'UFV' D. J. EPLIUE'E'APU United States Patent Ofiice 3,188,684 Patented June 15, 1965 3,188,684 ARTICLE GRIPPING AND HANDLING DEVICE Orlando .1. Calogero, Cliifside Park, NJ. (24 Haring Lane, Tenafly, NJ.) Filed Apr. 16, 1962, Ser. No. 187,648 3 Claims. (Cl. 16-414) This invention relates to article gripping and holding means, and has for an object the provision of a new and improved apparatus, and method of manufacture thereof, whereby a wide variety of difficult to handle articles ranging, for example, from highly heated, caustic or radioactive industrial devices to the more common heated kitchen utensils, may be conveniently and positively gripped, held and released without necessitating any undesirable contact therewith and/ or proximity thereto.

A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved apparatus of such nature which, by reason of the ingenious simplicity inherent in the design thereof, embody significant economies in the fabrication, utilization and maintenance thereof.

In a preferred embodiment herein-disclosed, the apparatus of the invention will be seen to comprise a first gripping surface and a second gripping surface spaced therefrom and slidable theretoward whereby articles to be gripped and held may be readily inserted and positively gripped therebetween. Guide means are provided integral with the first and second gripping surfaces to guide the second gripping surface toward the first gripping surface, while actuating means are provided integral with the said second gripping surface to facilitate the sliding thereof toward the first gripping surface.

The above and other objects and advantages of the method and apparatus of the invention are believed made clear by detailed reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side view, partially in section, of the apparatus of the herein-disclosed preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in an open position just prior to the insertion of an article therein;

FIGURE 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIGURE 1 depicted in an open position in conjunction with the phantom depiction of an article inserted therein, and

FIGURE 3 is a side view similar to FIGURE 1 and depicts the apparatus thereof in a closed position in conjunction with the phantom depiction of an article gripped thereby.

Turning now to such drawings, the apparatus of the invention is seen to comprise a stationary frame member 4 and a movable frame member 6 slidably mounted thereon and guided ther-ealong by integral flanges 7 bent thereover in the manner shown. Further included in the movable frame member and also formed as integral parts thereof are movable gripping element 8-formed by bending over one end portion thereof in the manner shown to provide a natural resiliency therein to bear against the article to be grippedand actuating knob 9- formed by bending over the other end portion thereof. Thus, it may be readily appreciated whereby the ingenious simplicity inherent in applicants design makes possible the formation of a major functional element of the apparatus of the invention-including actuating, guide and gripping meansthrough the simple expedient of bending over predetermined end and side portions of a piece of sheet material. Similarly, gripping element guide and support flanges 11 are formed as integral parts of stationary frame member 4 by bending upright as shown the sides of one end portion thereof, while handle 12 may likewise be formed by bending over the sides of the opposite end portion thereof. Alternatively, however, such handle may be formed of a separate material and attached to the stationary frame member in any well-known manner should such prove desirable for particular applications of the disclosed apparatus. For example, should the temperature of the articles to be handled in a particular application be elevated to a significant degree, it would probably prove desirable to construct handle 12 of heat insulating material and thence attach same to the stationary frame member.

Fixed gripping element 13 is seen to be supported above the surface of the stationary frame member by guide and support flanges 11 and bolt assembly 14 which passes therethrough and is secured therein by fastening element 16. Such gripping element may, if desired, be mounted upon the bolt with freedom for rotation therearound to facilitate travel of articles to be gripped into proper position within the apparatus.

Movable gripping element return mechanism is generally indicated at 17 and seen to comprise bolt 18, fastening element 19 and 21, and return spring 22 positioned as shown with the said bolt passing through hole 23 in the stationary frame member and being secured thereto by fastening element 19. The bolt is also seen to pass through hole 24 in the movable frame member with sufficient clearance therebetween to enable the said frame member to slide therealong while being further guided thereby. Return spring 22 is supported on the portion of the bolt which extends past the movable frame member and maintained thereagainst by fastening element 21 to thus bias the apparatus of the invention toward the open position of FIGURES 1 and 2.

The apparatus of the invention will be seen to be depicted in the drawings in functional relationship with the phantom depiction of handle 26 of an exemplary article 27, such as a crucible utilized in the melting of metals or a small cup utilized in the poaching of eggs, in an effort to make perfectly clear the manner of operation thereof. Such operation is as follows. Upon the determination that an article is to be gripped and handled 'by the apparatus of the invention, the gripping elements 8 and 13 are fitted around the handle 26 of the article, or any convenient protruding portion thereof, whereby guide flanges 11, the proximate extremity of stationary frame member 4, and the said gripping elements function to guide the handle into proper position between the gripping elements as depicted in FIGURES 1 and 2. Actuating knob 9 is then moved forward, i.e., toward the article, whereupon the movable gripping element is moved into close proximity with the stationary gripping element to grip the article securely therebetween in the manner depicted in FIGURE 3.

The article is now securely held in position by frictional contact with the surfaces of the gripping elements and the pressure applied thereto by the natural resiliency of movable gripping element 8, and may be handled at will through the medium of handle 12 without necessitating any closer proximity thereto than that established by the length of stationary frame member 4 and/ or handle 12.

To release the article from the apparatus, pressure is simply removed from actuating knob 9 whereupon the return mechanism 17 will return the movable frame member and gripping element to the open position depicted in FIGURES 1 and 2, thus enabling convenient withdrawal of the apparatus from the article without necessitating any further movement on the part of the latter.

A very wide variety of materials will obviously find ready utilization in the construction of the disclosed apparatus. For example, thin sheet steel or plastic might prove desirable in many instances, thereby enabling the economical stamping or injection molding of the major elements thereof. However, many of the more arduous proposed applications of the apparatus, as for example,

loys, ceramets, or acid resistant plastics for at least those 7 portions of the device which come intoiclose' proximity therewith. In any event, applicant in no way intends to be limited by this disclosure to the utilization of any particular materials or combinations thereof in the construction of the disclosed appanatus, but rather, intends that any materials which would become obvious to one skilled in this art in view of thenat'ure of the articles to be 'handled, be considered within the purview of this disclosure. 7

Similarly, applicant does not intend to be limited to the specific constructional details of the preferred embodiment disclosed herein, but rather, is well aware that humerous modifications thereof will at once become obvious I to one skilled in this art upon. a careful reading of this that the handle 12 might be eliminated and the function thereof served by the end portion of stationary frame disclosure For example only, applicant is Well aware member 4, that a high friction finish or, coating might Well 7 be applied to the functional surfaces of the gripping elements to improve the grippingefiiciencyof the apparatus, that simple and readily releasable locking meansvmight be 0nd generally elongated member of generally complementary shape slidably positioned atop said first member, said second member including a portion thereof which fits within said open, generally U-shaped support assembly, said portion including one end of said second member which is bent over to form second article gripping means'for' cooperation with aid first article gripping -means Within saidsupport assembly, the other end of said second member being likewise bent over to form actuating means for slidably moving said second member relative to said'first member to move said second gripping means'tow-ard said first gripping means to grip articles therebetween Within said open, generally U-shaped support assembly, and guide means on said'first and second members for guiding the sliding 'm-ovementof the latter relative to the former. a t

2. In a device as in claim 1 wherein said guide means comprise a guide shaft secured to said first member and slidably projecting through said second member for guiding the relative movement 'therebetween.

3. 111 a device as in claim: 1 wherein said first and second members each include at least two spaced bends of substantially 90 extent formed therein, and said guide A means include a guide shaft secured to said first member provided to maintain actuating knob 9 in the closedposition, and that protruding portions, might be formed on guide flanges 11 and thence bent over to extend therebetween to form the fixed gripping element as an'integral part thereof and eliminate the need for bolt 14,

. fastening element 16 and the separate fixed gripping element13. Z

Accordingly, it istapplicants intention that no 1 limitations be placed upon the protection to, be afforded by this disclosure except those consistent with. a reasonable interpretation of the. terms of'the appended claims.

What is claimed is: i

=1. In a device for gripping and holdingarticles, a first,

in the portion'thereof between said first and second bends and slid'ably projecting'through said second member in the portion thereof between said bends, and biasing means on said guide shaft and operable. to relatively biassaid first and second members to move said second'gripping generally elongated member comprising handlemeans at one end thereof and bent-over side edge portion at the opposite end thereof, said bent-over portions f-ormingan open, generally U-shaped support assembly at said opposite end, a support shaft extending between and supported by said bent-over portions, across said open, generally U-shaped support assembly, first, article gripping means rotatably supported on said support shaft, a secmean-s away from said first gripping means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,772,356 8/30 Langsner 29526 2,243,305 5/41 f Adler a 294-34 7 2,262,273 11/41 'Fer'rara 294-34 2,382,145 8/45, Hadley 294l03 2,733,947' '2/46 Platt' 29434 2,777,725 -V 1/57 Weir 29434 2,932,085 4/60 All-ward 29526 SAMUEL F. coLE A Primary Examiner.

- JAMES'S. SHANK, ERNEST A. FALLER, WILLIAM B, LA BORDE, Examiners. 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR GRIPPING AND HOLDING ARTICLES, A FIRST, GENERALLY ELONGATED MEMBER COMPRISING HANDLE MEANS AT ONE END THEREOF AND BENT-OVER SIDE EDGE PORTIONS AT THE OPPOSITE END THEREOF, SAID BENT-OVER PORTIONS FORMING AN END, GENERALLY U-SHAPED SUPPORT ASSEMBLY AT SAID OPPOSITE END, A SUPPORT SHAFT EXTENDING BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTED BY SAID BENT-OVER PORTIONS ACROSS SAID OPEN, GENERALLY U-SHAPED SUPPORT ASSEMBLY, FIRST ARTICLE GRIPPING MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTED ON SAID SUPPORT SHAFT, A SECOND GENERALLY ELONGATED MEMBER OF GENERALLY COMPLEMENTARY SHAPE SLIDABLY POSITIONED ATOP SAID FIRST MEMBERS, SAID SECOND MEMEBR INCLUDING A PORTION THEREOF WHICH FITS WITHIN SAID OPEN, GENERALLY U-SHAPED SUPPORT ASSEMBLY, SAID PORTION INCLUDING ONE END OF SAID SECOND MEMBER WHICH IS BENT OVER TO FORM SECOND ARTICLE GRIPPING MEANS FOR COOPERATION WITH SAID FIRST ARTICLE GRIPPING MEANS WITHIN SAID SUPPORT ASSEMBLY, THE OTHER END OF SAID SECOND MEMBER BEING LIKEWISE BENT OVER TO FORM ACTUATING MEANS FOR SLIDABLY MOVING SAID SECOND MEMBER RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST MEMBER TO MOVE SAID SECOND GRIPPING MEANS TOWARD SAID FIRST GRIPPING MEANS TO GRIP ARTICLES THEREBETWEEN WITHIN SAID OPEN, GENERALLY U-SHAPED SUPPORT ASSEMBLY, AND GUIDE MEANS ON SAID FIRST AND SECOND MEMBERS FOR GUIDING THE SLIDING MOVEMENT OF THE LATTER RELATIVE TO THE FORMER. 